I've never understood gold but it seems to me that land is more valuable than gold.
The logic evades me, too. It seems to me that if our fiat money collapses, there will only be a few items of actual value, in no particular order:
food
weapons
ammo
land
women
You can't eat gold, you can't sleep on it, or with it. Therefore, gold is as much a fiat currency as paper money in the event of a total economic collapse.
Food and/or the means to get food (land, weapons, and ammo), women, and the means to secure your food, land, and women (weapons and ammunition) have traditionally been the only items of real value when the economy completely tanks.
You are correct, land has done much better then gold. Many people buy gold as security and not a investment.